Jiang Cheng brought everything into the kitchen then came back out to rinse the towel with cool water again and put it on Gu Fei's forehead.  

The electronic thermometer still showed 38.2°C, not much change. He carefully lifted the quilt and tried to put the mercury thermometer under Gu Fei's arm. As soon as his hand touched Gu Fei, Gu Fei softly murmured, "Mm?"

"Sleep, keep sleeping," Jiang Cheng quickly whispered. "I'm just taking your temperature."

"Brother Cheng," Gu Fei mumbled unclearly.

"Hm?" Jiang Cheng replied while sticking the thermometer in place and pulling the quilt back over Gu Fei.  

"I don't feel well," Gu Fei murmured with eyes still closed, his voice sounding wronged.  

His hoarse voice and tone made Jiang Cheng's heart lurch. He felt like his heart was being clawed at as his nose stung.

"I know, I know," Jiang Cheng gently stroked Gu Fei's face and neatly tucked the quilt around him. "Hang in there a bit longer. I got medication. After some food I'll give you the medicine, then you'll feel better."

"Eat what?" Gu Fei asked.

"I ran into Li Yan just now," Jiang Cheng said. "He said to eat light foods for a fever, like plain congee or noodles."

"That bastard," Gu Fei muttered. "Definitely on purpose."

"What do you want to eat? I'll make it for you," Jiang Cheng asked.

Gu Fei just grunted twice, saying something unclear, before falling back asleep.

Jiang Cheng guessed he was complaining about his cooking skills. But congee and noodles...he could manage that much, since he used to cook instant noodles for himself all the time.

But Gu Fei hadn't specified what he wanted before dozing off again, so Jiang Cheng went into the kitchen and started cooking congee first. Congee was simple - just add water and rice to the rice cooker and set it to congee mode.  

Just as he pressed the button, his phone rang in his pocket. In his fluster he didn't even look at the caller ID before hitting answer, afraid another ring would wake Gu Fei.  

"Who is it?" he asked.

"What the - Cheng'er?" It was Pan Zhi's voice. "Did you delete my number?"

"Why would I delete your number?" Jiang Cheng said.

"Then why are you asking who it is? Don't you have caller ID?" Pan Zhi said.

"I didn't check," Jiang Cheng replied. "What's up?"

"I'll be damned," Pan Zhi sounded aggrieved. "I can't call you now if I don't have anything urgent?"

"Just asked reflexively," Jiang Cheng said.  

"Well, I do actually have something urgent," Pan Zhi said. "How's it feel? Amazing after finishing the exam?"

"Not bad," Jiang Cheng smiled.  

"Were your answers right? No problem getting into a good school now, right?" Pan Zhi asked.

"Didn't check answers. Will know when scores are out," Jiang Cheng said. "Felt it went okay. Can't be bothered stressing anymore."

"The aura of this study god," Pan Zhi sighed, "I calculated that I can probably get into a third-rate university. Anyway, I'll have to fight with my mom to attend the same school as you in the future."

"Don't you have a girlfriend recently?" Jiang Cheng said, "Yet you want to stick with me."

"Even if I have a girlfriend, I have to consider you first," Pan Zhi laughed, "Besides, I don't have any real relationships to speak of now. Who knows if there's a better girl waiting for me in college."

"With your character," Jiang Cheng said softly, "Good girls won't end up with you."

"What if I just get lucky and run into a blind one," Pan Zhi said casually and laughed, "Oh yeah, how's Gu Fei? I just sent him a message to see how he's doing but he didn't reply. Could it be that he failed the exam and is grieving?"

"How could he be grieving over something like this," Jiang Cheng said, "He has a fever and is sleeping... Right, can you ask your mom how to make tasty plain porridge and noodles? He might not want porridge later and I can cook noodles for him then."

"He has a fever?" Pan Zhi was surprised, "I always thought that if anyone were to collapse after the exam, it would be you!"

"Yeah, who would've thought it'd be Gu Fei who collapsed." Jiang Cheng said.

Only he himself knew why Gu Fei collapsed.

Thinking about this, he suddenly felt awful again. He didn't realize why Gu Fei got sick until after he collapsed.

He went back to the living room and sat on the small stool, looking at Gu Fei.

He had really never seen Gu Fei this sick before. He looked especially pitiful.

It was probably time to take the thermometer out, but he hesitated for a long time before finally working up the courage to lift the covers.

Right when Gu Fei moved a little, he swiftly lifted the covers just enough to pull out the thermometer.

"Hmm?" Gu Fei mumbled groggily again.

"Did I wake you?" Jiang Cheng quickly tucked him back in, "I'm just taking the thermometer out."

"What's...the temperature?" Gu Fei was still groggy.

"Let me see..." Jiang Cheng looked down at the thermometer in his hand.

This thing was so annoying. No matter how he turned it, after 7,264 spins, he still couldn't find where the mercury line thing was. The wide ones were fine, but the doctor gave a thin one.

"Damn!" He was a little anxious and held up the thermometer again to look under the light. After staring for a long time, he still couldn't figure out how to read it. The more anxious he got, the more confused he was about how to look at it. He suppressed his voice and said irritably, "This thing wasn't designed to be read!"

"Give it here." Gu Fei said.

Jiang Cheng helplessly handed it to him, "Am I blind?"

Gu Fei just smiled weakly without answering. He could tell Gu Fei was still very weak. Gu Fei casually turned it half a circle, "38.1 degrees."  

"So the electronic one was basically accurate," Jiang Cheng sighed and took the thermometer back, tucking Gu Fei in again. "Sleep some more, I cooked porridge for you. If you don't want porridge later, I can cook noodles when you want to eat."

"It's hot..." Gu Fei said.

"Sweating means it's hot," Jiang Cheng leaned against the sofa half-kneeling, gently stroking his nose, "Sweating helps. Do you want some water? The doctor said you need to drink more water to avoid dehydration."

"Mm." Gu Fei responded with his eyes closed.

Jiang Cheng mixed a cup of warm water and added a straw, straws he had saved from drinking yogurt. He liked to eat with a spoon but Gu Fei would take the straws off and save them, saying they might come in handy someday.

And now they did.

"Here, bite on this." Jiang Cheng leaned close, lightly tapping the straw twice against Gu Fei's lips.

"Treating me like a puppy." Gu Fei laughed softly.